Cage nut tool



Sept` 4, 1945 v v vM. SCHUTZ 2,384,347

CAGE NUT TOOL Filed NOV. 11, 1945 iw yf' I INVEN'TOJ@ Patented Sept. 4, 1945 Michael `Schutt, 'Jackson Heights, N. Y., assigner to Steinway it Sons, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Yorkappiicationnevernher 11, 1943, seralNdsoaszs v *rolaitif.'L (c1. 218-19) This invention relates to tools for clinching cage nuts to plywood skins used in glider -or aeroplane constructions. y Y i.

This invention has for its object tol provide a tool which will be quick inaction, and provide a snap clinching action and securely fasten the cagenut to the plywood skin.

The invention consists of ashafthaving a screw-threaded end engaging the interior of la cage nut, and means for moving said shaft `to collapse the cage nut, a holder for theshaft being provided which abuts against the cage nut rim, for clinching the cage nut against aplywood skin. The shaft is axially moved by apis.- ton operated by compressed air, and the shaftV has a means for rotating it arrangedon the other, end of the casing for the piston. The said means, shaft, support and casing are alloc-axial. Y

The invention will be further described in confv nection with the embodiments shown, yand'will be finally pointed out in the claim. A 1

In the accompanying drawing, v

Fig. l is a central section of my improved tool;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section on line 2-2'vofl Figure 1;

the cage nut engaged by the threaded end of the plunger shaft;

Fig. 4 is a transverse section online 4--4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of the cage nut in clinched position, and

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectionV on line 6 6 of Fig. 5.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the various views.

Referring to the drawing, and more particularly to Figure 3, the cage nut as known consists of a cup-shaped portion I Il opening into its mouth I I where the rim I2 of the cup is formed by a circumferential flange substantially at right angles to the axis of the cup.

The cup-shaped body Il) has an extension with slots 5a, consisting of an outwardly extending shoulder I6, an inwardly curved part I'I, an outwardly extending shoulder I8 and a covering end portion i9. The inwardly extending curved portion I1 has at its interior surface a screwthreaded portion 20. Cage nuts of this kind are passed through openings in the plywood skin, one of which openings is shown by 2| in the plywood 22. The interior circumferential rim of the opening 2I is substantially equal to the exterior circumferential portion of the cup-shaped body l'adjacent its rim I2, so that the Acage nut sits snugly in the opening, ybeing supportedv by the plywood 22, with the rim I2 resting .on the plywood. '1

The invention consists in providing va movable shaft 23 at its. end with an externally threaded portion 25 of the same pitch` as the internal threads of the portion 20, to enable an engage ment therebetween. The shaft 23 is intended upon said screw-threaded engagement to have its tip end engage the inner surface of theI end-portion I9. When the threads are engaged and the tip .of the shaft in contact with the end of the cage nut, the shaft has its exterior portion snugly 1 ttedinto the interior of the cup portion, the

shaft end being so formed for this purpose. With the parts so engaged the cage nut is ready for the 'clinchingvoperation y ,Y :l l

This is carried out bysubjecting the rim I2. to a resisting or holding action against a pulling action of the shaft 23. This is carried outI by pressing. the :holder 3U against the rim v'2l and subjecting the shaft 23 to a movement inthe opposite direction to the holding force.l This pulls the threaded portion ofthe Cagenutvr and collapses orvclinches the cup or skirt; I0 to the extent necessary to complete the clinging Voperation, whereupon the cage nut is capable of being used for its intended purpose, the shaft then beingunscrewed to release or remove the shaft entirely from the cage nut.

In Figure 1, .the holder 30 consists of a sleeve which has a bore 3I for the seating of the enlarged portion 32 of the shaft 23. A subcaliber bore 33 in the sleeve permits free movement of the shank 34 of the shaft 23 which extends upwardly until its other end extends out of the sleeve, where it is keyed to an extended shaft portion 36 which has, at its uppermost end, a knurled button 35. In the embodiment shown, the shaft 23 is secured at its upper end to the extended shaft portion 36,

by a key 31 which preferably passes through the shaft 23. The extended shaft portion forms a shoulder 36a in the path of the hub 63. The shaft 23 and extended shaft portion 36 act as one member longitudinally and rotatably. The end of the shaft has a screw-threaded portion engaging a screw-threaded bore 38, and the extended shaft portion 36 is freely guided at 43 Without friction by a handle opening 39 of a handle 40, secured to a casing 4I by bolts 42. By turning the knob 35 at one end of the shaft, the shaft is rotated until its other end has its screw-threads engage the screw-threads of the cage nut to the limit of the movement into the cage nut.

'I'he casing 50 consists of a cylindrical portion I having its open ends 52 and 53 closed by discs 5I and 55, with the discs held towards each other by bolts 42 having heads 56 and nuts 51. A suitable number of such bolts are provided. When the nuts are screwed on sulciently, the interior of the casing is liquid tight, a rubber or the like sheet 58 being provided. Withimthe casing 50 a piston 60 is arrangedvwhieh is provded'withruober or the like sheets 6l, having guiding and sealing lips 62, which move along the interior of the cylinder 5|. The piston 60 has a central opening through which a hub 63, having aishoulder 64), passes and which hub ,6 3 has Ja screw threaded portion, which is .engaged'by a screw threaded nut 65. 'Ihe piston 60 is heid between the shoulder 64 of the hub 63 and the nut 65; and on the movement of the pistonG the hublmoves with it. Normally the hub 63 rests upon tthe stationary holder 30. The shaft 23 is freely rotatable in 'the bore vof the yrhub. fAspringSD is ridisposedibetweenthe umierlend` o'f theficasing land the pistoniBUto return! the-piston toritsrinitia'lipos'ition as shown in Fig. 1. The movement oftheipiston 60 vresultsfrom the-action of 1compressed-:air:enteringf'theccyliriderl atti'ie airinletfnozzlef tolwhich a `hose is`connected, fand `which :hose'lis connected with a `*source* of fcompressed 1 air, :and the upward movement ofi the .piston-:"Gf'overcomes the vaction of the springf80.

'The upper disc 154ha's -a-central opening "flilor the passage'ofrthe shaftportion. 'lf'heboiorn disc 55 has iacentral 'opening i'H which -'has iits walls screw-'threaded "to =engage Lexternal 4screw'- threads o'f fthe V`sleeveorhol"der 30. Adjusting screws "to limit the movementf ofv the Akpistonil, pass through the-'upper disc 54.

After the shaft has beenI-scx'ewedtolthe cage nut, the sleeve orhol'der S30 is fpressedagainstithe rim 12, to'hld'it, 'andfthen 4the air:Tistsauised` to enterfthe cylinder, anu'rthelshaftiis plledag-inst the'holdingfforce of the holdenuntil Jthe cagernut is clinched, whenlthe yairis stopped, land i'thefpiston returns 'tof its initial position. Suitable/control valvesfor the air inletiand outlet,iasiknown, are provided. `iligurefl shows Ithepistonfin-its initial position; tanditheholderijustrreadyitoabut against the rrim, l:and when fthe Lsha'ft =pulls supwardly it has its enlarged end 32 enter the bore 3l.

It Will be noted that the shaft 23 is co-axial with the piston and with the extension 36, on which the nut or handle 35 is secured. This makes a very simple structure having ease in operation, in that the shaft is screwed in, the piston operated, and the shaft unscrewed.

.From Lthe ioregoing it .isbelieved thatthe operation andiadvantages of the invention will be readily understood. by those skilled in the art l lavithout further description, it being borne in mind that numerous changes may be made in the de- 1tails=disclosed without departing from the spirit `oLthe inventionas set out in the following claim.

'what Lamm. is:

In-a'tool rforcage nuts having a base and a screwthreaded tip and a collapsible portion between 'the same, -such tool having a casing with an. upper, and 1ower end, a shaft centrally disposed in the casing and passing through the upper and loweriends -of the `casing 'and V'having a *shoulder disposed between =said ends, `4a stationary holder having one end securedtotheflower'endof 'the casing Aand surrounding-the lower portion of the shaft -andfhaving its other end adapted to'engage the base `of vthe cage nut, said shaft being -ro tatable within the holderand'having its end'adjacent the -cage-nut-engaging-'end o'f the holder screwthreaded for engaging the interior screwthreaded tip of the cage nut, a'liub within the casing slidably surrounding the lower-portion :of said shaft 'within 'the casing, a'piston within-the casingsecuredto 'said hub, said casing having an opening below the piston permitting compressed air to enter and tobe discharged fromthef'casing, 'and a spring disposed -above -fthe piston `and between the Apiston and the'upper 'endofthe casing, theshafthub, piston, vandhcldei"be'ing -a-xially arranged relative to the casing, lwhereby uponthe pistonfbeing raised -by the compressed air, the hub Strikes the shoulder on the `shaft and raises the shaft and Vcollapses the cage lult against'theholder, the spring returning the'hub and piston-tof'their initial positions upon release of the compressed air below the piston.

MICHAEL 'scHUfrz. 

